Health briefs

__COX JOINS SOUTHEAST PRIMARY CARE__

Dr. Jessica Cox, a family medicine physician, joined the medical staff at Southeast Hospital. She is affiliated with Southeast Primary Care on the health system's West Campus in Cape Girardeau. Cox holds a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences from the University of Missouri -- Columbia and a master of public health in epidemiology from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. She earned her MD degree from the University of Missouri -- Columbia School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Tennessee-Saint Francis Family Medicine Program. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

__LIPPERT-KECK JOINS SOUTHEAST WOUND CARE__

Dr. Julianna Lippert-Keck joined the medical staff at SoutheastHEALTH. She is affiliated with Southeast Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, 310 S. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau. Lippert-Keck holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Missouri -- Kansas City and received her MD degree there as well. She completed a residency in family medicine at Mercy Family Medicine in St. Louis. She is board certified by the America Board of Family Medicine. Lippert-Keck served 15 years as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy, earning the rank of lieutenant commander, and has specialized training in undersea diving and hyperbaric medicine.

__PHARMACY STAFFERS ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCE__

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Kevin Wood, pharmacist and owner at Broadway Prescription Shop in Cape Girardeau, along with owner Lee Schlitt and Stephanie Rogers, director of marketing and wellness at the pharmacy, attended ThoughtSpot 2015, the annual conference and trade show by Good Neighbor Pharmacy in Las Vegas. The four-day event was designed to help independent community pharmacies drive positive health outcomes, improve profitability and enhance their role as a source of patient care, according to a news release.

__SOUTHEAST FOUNDATION AMBASSADORS ANNOUNCE BOARD__

Inaugural board members were approved for the newly-formed SoutheastHEALTH Foundation Ambassadors, according to a news release. Board members include Kyle Thompson, community bank president at The Bank of Missouri, board president; Tyler Cuba of Cuba Financial, vice president; Shannon Daniels of US Bank, secretary; and Joe Uzoaru of Athena Property Group, treasurer. The ambassadors consist of professionals in Cape Girardeau and Jackson who will represent the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation throughout the community. Also serving on the board are Jeanne Muckermann, previously of Banterra Bank; Kyle Thompson of The Bank of Missouri; Josh Ford of Ford and Sons Funeral Home; Courtland Kohlfeld of Kohlfeld Distributing; Curt Buchheit of Cape Electric; Andrea Cunningham of Big Brothers Big Sisters; and Kara Clark Summers, Cape Girardeau County clerk.

__SAINT FRANCIS ADDS NEUROSURGEON GAMADIA__

Saint Francis Medical Center added neurosurgeon Dr. Kaywan (Kev) Gamadia as a medical partner. He joins fellow neurosurgeon Dr. Brandon J. Scott at the Cape Spine & Neurosurgery practice in Cape Girardeau. Gamadia earned his medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, and later completed his neurosurgical residency at Ohio University in Dayton, Ohio. He has extensive neurosurgical training, and his clinical interests include the treatment of spine abnormalities and brain tumors, using minimally invasive surgical techniques, traditional procedures and disc replacement. Before joining Saint Francis, Gamadia served as a neurosurgeon at Neurosurgical Associates of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas.

__GARRIS JOINS CROSS TRAILS__

Rebecca Garris joined Cross Trails Medical Center as clinical director. Garris, a registered nurse, will be responsible for quality improvement, risk management, clinical supervision and ensuring the best environment for quality patient care, according to a news release. She has more than 18 years of experience in health care.

__GLUECK JOINS JACKSON FAMILY CARE__

Saint Francis Medical Center added primary care physician Dr. Laura E. Glueck as a medical partner. She joins fellow primary care physician Dr. Kennett D. Asher at Jackson Family Care, 545 Broadridge Drive in Jackson. An Oak Ridge native, Glueck completed her bachelor's degree at University of Missouri-Columbia and her medical degree at A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. She later completed her family medicine internship and residency at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northeast in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Glueck is board certified in family medicine.

__VENKATA JOINS CAPE PULMONOLOGY, SLEEP MEDICINE__

Dr. Anand Venkata, a pulmonologist and critical care physician, is a new medical partner at Saint Francis Medical Center. He joins Dr. Bradley K. Bittle and Dr. W. Keith Graham at the Cape Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine practice in Cape Girardeau. Venkata earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut in Farmington, Connecticut, and his fellowship at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital, Mt. Sinai Health System in New York. His clinical interests include full-scope pulmonary and critical care, with expertise in a full range of bronchoscopic, EBUS procedures and critical care ultrasonography.

__LAB TEST DIAGNOSTICS CUTS RIBBON__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- LabTest Diagnostics held a ribbon cutting and open house in August at 1035 E. Karsch Blvd., Suite A in Farmington.

__BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER OPENS IN P.B.__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center held a grand opening and ribbon cutting Aug. 5 for its newly renovated Behavioral Health Center. The center is on the hospital's Westwood Campus at 2620 N. Westwood Blvd. With the renovations, the center has expanded its capacity from 28 to 40 beds, according to Buddy Daniels, chief operating officer at the medical center.

__SAINT FRANCIS WINS 14 MARKETING AWARDS__

Saint Francis Medical Center has won 14 Show-Me excellence Awards for excellence in health-care marketing. The Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing announced the awards June 25 during its annual Summer Forum. Saint Francis won four first-place awards, four second-place awards and six third-place awards spanning the categories of TV, radio, print, direct mail, multimedia campaign, annual report, physician relations/communication projects, media-relations activity or program and special-purpose publications. The Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing formed in 1978 as an affiliate of the Missouri Hospital Association and an affiliated chapter of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.

__ADVANCED ACCREDITATION FOR COUNTY HEALTH__

The Missouri Institute for Community health granted the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center advanced accreditation. The designation indicates the health center meets or exceeds standards set by the Missouri Voluntary Accreditation program Local Public Health Agencies, according to a news release from the health center. The Missouri Institute for Community Health is the predominant standards-setting and accrediting body for public-health standards in the state, the release said.

__PERRY COUNTY HOSPITAL A 'HOSPITAL TO KNOW'__

Becker's Hospital Review has named Perry County Memorial Hospital to its first list of 50 Critical Access Hospitals to Know. Only two hospitals in Missouri were named to the list, according to a release from Becker's Hospital Review. The review's editorial team made its selections based on awards and recognitions the hospital had received, as well as patient satisfaction scores from CMS' Hospital Compare, the release stated. The hospital has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by iVantage health and a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital by the National Rural Health Association. Becker's Hospital Review is a monthly publication containing business and legal news and analysis related to hospitals and health systems.

__BURTON RECERTIFIED AS FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE__

Mary E. Burton has been recertified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International. Burton is the executive director of the Community Counseling Center Foundation. To receive the credential, people must meet standards in tenure, education, fundraising achievement and commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations, according to a news release from CFRE International. They also must pass a written exam and agree to uphold accountability standards and the Donor Bill of Rights. The certification is awarded for a three-year period.

__HARTLEIN JOINS PC WELLNESS CENTERS__

Andrea Hartlein joined PC Wellness Centers in Cape Girardeau. She is a licensed massage therapist and is certified in various types of massage, including Swedish and hot stone. She has been a massage therapist since 2012, when she completed her education at Metro Business College in Cape Girardeau.